The Saint Joseph County Housing Authority's jurisdiction is OUTSIDE the city limits of South Bend and Mishawaka. You will NOT be allowed to lease up within the city limits of South Bend or Mishawaka. The voucher is good for the RURAL parts of St. Joseph County. If you receive a voucher from SJCHA, you will be required to lease up and live in our jurisdiction for the first year.

• Selection is based on the SJCHA’s system for preference and lottery. Local preferences are ranked in accordance with the SJCHA’s hierarchy of preferences, and each preference is weighted individually. A family may qualify for more than one preference category. 500 applications will be chosen through a lottery system.
  • Jurisdictional Preference: This preference is available to families who live in or include a family member that works in the jurisdiction of SJCHA or is a person who has been hired to work in the jurisdiction of the SJCHA. The jurisdiction of SJCHA is the rural area of St. Joseph County, IN. (towns of Walkerton, North Liberty, Roseland, Lakeville, New Carlisle, Osceola, Granger, and any five (5) digit street address in the rural area of St. Joseph County); OUTSIDE the city limits of South Bend or Mishawaka.
  • Residency Preference: This preference is available to families who live in St. Joseph County, IN.
  • Disability Preference: This preference is extended to disabled persons or families with a disabled member
  • Elderly Preference: This preference is extended to a family whose head, spouse or sole member is age 62 or older
  • Veteran’s Preference: This preference is available to current members of the U.S. Armed Forces, veterans, or surviving spouses of veterans.